hey shane can you get me a pic of this setup???
anre you using one or two chambers??
you may need another chamber to even out the ph and co2
if ya want me to build ya one lemme know, this one hardly ever needs
adjustment and once set doesnt budge.
but with your setup I would suggest another chamvber to soak up the excess
co2
you should start your output at 1.5 liters per hour. I think you are running
too much water thru the system too fast. so set your flow first once that is
stable then set your co2 starting at about 1 bub every couple secs.
hth
dave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shane Clays" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2001 11:30 AM
Subject: Calcium Reactor Update and Questions
> All,
>
> Okay, I finally got my needle valve hooked up and it is working well. I
> currently have the reactor running at 1 bubble every 5 seconds and an
output
> rate of about .75 gallons per hour. The weird thing is that for the last
4-5
> days, I had not been running any CO2 into the reactor because I did not
have
> the control on the bubbles that I needed, so I shut it down and just let
the
> pumps run without the CO2 injection. During that time, the output rate was
> about a half gallon per hour. So, after about 5 days I got the needle
valve,
> and installed it (last night).
>
> Before injecting with any more CO2 and just out of curiosity, I tested
the
> pH. Suprisingly, it tested at 7.5. The pH of the tank was 8.3. I didnt
think
> it would be this low since I had not injected with CO2 in almost a week.
> Whats up with that?? Not enough flow out of (and into) the reactor or
what?
> I mean, I know CO2 is going to remain in the reactor for a period of time
> after you quit injecting, but for a week? I had also hooked up a second
> chamber, so the output is going through about another 3 pounds of media
> before being output into the tank.
>
> I know it is breaking down the media, because some of the media in my
> reactor has gone from a large grade aragonite to very small sand like
> particulate size, and the tubing I used is now all white and covered with
> calcium. Thus, it must be doing the job on the media.
>
> Now, after I hooked up the CO2 last night, I upped the output from the
> reactor from about a half gallon per hour to three quarters gallon per
hour
> (3 quarts) and began to dose the reactor at one bubble every 5 seconds.
> Within an hour, my pH had dropped from 8.3 to 7.72. I then disconnected
the
> CO2 and just let the reactor run without it again and the pH came back up
to
> 8.06 by this morning. Not only does it run through the second chamber, but
> the output also is on the top of my sump, where the output of my tank
> splashes down. I cant seem to drive the CO2 out of the water at a high
> enough rate, which means that there must be too much CO2 in the output
water
> right?
>
> I have not tested for caclium or alk. coming out of the reactor, because
> without using the CO2, I went back to dosing with additives to maintain
> levels. I planned on letting it run without any additves this weekend, and
> monitoring the rise or fall of calcium and alk. to get an idea of what it
is
> doing.
>
> So, to summarize, at a injection rate of one bubble every 5 seconds and an
> output rate of .75 GPH, my pH dropped significantly. I know it is working
> though, due to the calcium collecting on the tubing of the reactor,
although
> we dont have any specific data because any tests done would have been
scewed
> due to the Calcium and Alk. additives used, so no tests were done. I also
> did not measure the pH of the output from the first chamber, so that may
be
> lower.
>
> I am already thinking that this reactor is too small. Other wise at a drip
> rate of one bubble every 5 seconds, the pH of my tank should not be
affected
> that much that quickly, right? I guess it will all depend on what amount
of
> calcium and alk. comes from the reactor so I think that is my next step,
> along with measuring the pH of the effluent from the 1st chamber.
>
> Any thoughts anyone??
>
>
> Thanks, sorry for the book....
>
> Shane C.
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________
>
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